THE proportion of two-year-olds being given the three-in-one MMR jab in Scotland is still running below recommended levels.

Figures out today show that while immunisation rates for other childhood diseases are exceeding the 95% target, take-up rates are still lagging for the jab against measles, mumps and rubella.

The take-up rate among two-year-olds was 91.8% in the latest quarter, and 92.1% for the year as a whole, according to NHS statistics published today.

This was slightly higher than the previous quarter.

Among five year-olds. the take-up rate both in the latest quarter and for the year as a whole was 94.4%, just below the 95% target set by the World Health Organisation.

The figures remain well above the take-up rate of 85.8% among two-year-olds in 2003.

The quarterly rate among five-year-olds in the Glasgow area stood at 93.8%, which is significantly lower than the recommended level and the national average.

At 91.9%, the take-up rate among two-year-olds in Greater Glasgow and Clyde was slightly higher than the national figure for the last quarter.

The MMR vaccine was introduced in 1988 but uptake levels started to fall away after 1998.

A fiercely-disputed study claimed it was linked to autism, but immunisation rates have been rising again since 2003.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: "It is very encouraging that uptake rates for the majority of childhood vaccinations remain above the 95% target.

"It is also good news that uptake rates for MMR have continued to rise over the past few years, although we realise we need to continue to encourage parents to have their children given this very important vaccine."

But opposition MSPs urged the government to take action to improve immunisation rates.

Tory health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: "At current rates, the herd immunity' threshold will not be reached for a considerable time, and we must do all we can to ensure as many children as possible are immunised to minimise the risk."

She added that while the Tories believed the MMR was the most effective way to tackle measles, mumps and rubella, there had to be an alternative.

Ms Scanlon said: "It is better to have single vaccines than no vaccine at all. At present, only those who can afford to pay for the single vaccine have the choice - that is wrong."